Liquid crystal display panel having dummy column spacer with opened portion

ABSTRACT

A liquid crystal display panel and method for fabricating the same are disclosed in the present invention. The liquid crystal display panel includes first and second substrates facing into each other, a column spacer in a pixel region between the substrates, a dummy column spacer formed in a dummy region between the substrates, the dummy column spacer having an opened portion in at least one of corner-regions, a UV sealant formed outside the dummy column spacer between the substrates, and a liquid crystal layer between the substrates.

This application claims the benefit of the Korean Application Nos.P2001-75459 filed on Nov. 30, 2001, P2001-79429 filed on Dec. 14, 2001,and P2002-18460 filed on Apr. 4, 2002, which are hereby incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display, and moreparticularly, to a liquid crystal display panel and method forfabricating the same by a liquid crystal dropping method.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

A thin flat panel display tends to have a thickness of no more than afew centimeters. Particularly, a liquid crystal display (LCD) has a widescope of applications, such as notebook computers, computer monitors,gauge monitors for space crafts, and air crafts, and the like.

Referring to FIG. 1, an LCD is provided with a lower substrate 1 havinga plurality of thin film transistors and pixel electrodes formedthereon, an upper substrate 3 facing into the lower substrate 1 having ablack matrix (BM), a color filter layer, and a common electrode, and aliquid crystal layer 5 between the two substrates 1 and 3. A sealant 7is formed between the lower and upper substrates 1 and 3, to bond thesubstrates and prevent the liquid crystal from leaking.

In the foregoing LCD, a vacuum injection method has been used forforming the liquid crystal layer between the lower substrate 1 and theupper substrate 3. In such a method, after the lower substrate 1 and theupper substrate 3 are bonded together, a liquid crystal is injectedbetween the two substrates by using capillary phenomenon and a pressuredifference. However, the vacuum injection method takes much time to fillthe liquid crystal between the substrates. As a result, productivity ismuch reduced as the substrate becomes large. Consequently, a methodcalled a liquid crystal dropping method is suggested for solving such aproblem. A method for fabricating an LCD panel by using a related artliquid crystal dropping method will be explained with reference to theattached drawings.

FIGS. 2A to 2D illustrate perspective views showing a method forfabricating an LCD panel by using a related art liquid crystal droppingmethod. For convenience, only one unit cell is illustrated in thedrawings.

Referring to FIG. 2A, a lower substrate 1 and an upper substrate 3 areprepared for the process. A plurality of gate lines and data lines (bothnot shown) are formed on the lower substrate 1 to cross each otherdefining pixel regions. A thin film transistor is formed at everycrossing point of the gate lines and the data lines. A pixel electrodeis formed at every pixel regions connected to the thin film transistor.

A black matrix is formed on the upper substrate 3 for shielding a lightleakage from the gate lines, the data lines, and the thin filmtransistors regions. A color filter layer of red, green, and blue isformed thereon. A common electrode is formed thereon in this order. Analignment film is formed on both of the lower substrate 1 and the uppersubstrate 3 for an initial orientation of the liquid crystal.

Referring to FIG. 2B, a sealant 7 is coated on the lower substrate 1,and a liquid crystal 5 is dropped thereon to form a liquid crystallayer. Then, spacers (not shown) are spread on the upper substrate 3 formaintaining a cell gap. The spacers may be ball spacers spread on thesubstrate, or column spacers attached to the substrate.

In the liquid crystal dropping method, the liquid crystal layer isplaced between the attached substrates before hardening a sealant.Accordingly, if a thermo-hardening sealant is used to bond thesubstrates, it may flow and contaminate the liquid crystal during theheating process. Thus, a UV sealant has to be used as a sealant to avoidsuch a problem.

Referring to FIG. 2C, the lower substrate 1 and the upper substrate 3are attached to each other. Referring to FIG. 2D, a UV ray is irradiatedby using a UV irradiating device 9, to harden the sealant 7 (shown inFIG. 1B), thereby bonding the lower substrate 1 and the upper substrate3. Then, the bonded substrates 1 and 3 are cut into a unit cell (notshown). A final inspection is carried out.

Thus, the liquid crystal dropping method takes less time period than thevacuum injection method because the liquid crystal 5 is directly droppedonto the lower substrate 1 before the substrates 1 and 3 are bonded.

However, the related art liquid crystal dropping method has thefollowing disadvantages caused by difficulty in determining an accurateamount of the liquid crystal depending upon a size of the substrate anda cell gap between the substrates.

First, if a dropped amount of the liquid crystal is less than therequired amount, regions of the substrate for the liquid crystal arefilled imperfectly. Particularly, there occur at four corners locatedfarthest from the center of the substrate. These deteriorate uniformityof the cell gap and picture characteristics.

Second, if the liquid crystal is dropped excessively, the liquid crystalcomes into contact with the sealant before the sealant is hardened.Thus, the liquid crystal is contaminated.

Third, even if the liquid crystal is dropped appropriately, it takestime to spread the liquid crystal from the center part of the substrateto the corners, the farthest spots. Accordingly, if the imperfectlyfilled region occurs as the liquid crystal is not spread to thecorner-regions, a final inspection cannot be carried out.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a liquid crystaldisplay panel and a method for fabricating the same that substantiallyobviates one or more of problems due to limitations and disadvantages ofthe related art.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystaldisplay panel and a method for fabricating the same to have a uniformcell gap and improved picture characteristics.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe description which follows and in part will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Theobjectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized andattained by the structure particularly pointed out in the writtendescription and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purposeof the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, a liquidcrystal display panel includes first and second substrates facing intoeach other, a column spacer in a pixel region between the substrates, adummy column spacer formed in a dummy region between the substrates, thedummy column spacer having an opened portion in at least one ofcorner-regions, a UV sealant formed outside the dummy column spacerbetween the substrates, and a liquid crystal layer between thesubstrates.

In another aspect of the present invention, a liquid crystal displaypanel includes first and second substrates, a plurality of gate linesand data lines on the first substrate to cross each other defining apixel region, a thin film transistor at each crossed point of the gatelines and the data lines, a pixel electrode in the pixel region, a blackmatrix on the second substrate, a color filter layer on the blackmatrix, a third layer on the color filter layer, a column spacer on thethird layer over a region vertically overlapping the gate lines and thedata lines, a dummy column spacer on a third layer in the dummy region,the dummy column spacer having an opened portion in at least one ofcorner-regions, a UV sealant outside the dummy column spacer between thesubstrates, and a liquid crystal layer between the substrates.

In a further aspect of the present invention, a method for fabricating aliquid crystal display panel includes forming a column spacer and adummy column spacer on a first substrate, the column spacer being formedin a pixel region and the dummy column spacer being formed in a dummyregion, forming a UV sealant outside the dummy column spacer, dropping aliquid crystal on the second substrate, attaching the first and secondsubstrates, and irradiating a UV ray on the attached substrates.

As explained, since a dropping amount of the liquid crystal in therelated art liquid crystal dropping method is not easily controllable,the liquid crystal may not be filled properly in the active region wherea picture is reproduced.

Accordingly, the present invention suggests dropping more than an amountof liquid crystal measured according to a cell gap and a substrate sizefor preventing imperfect filling, and forming a dummy column spacer inthe dummy region to regulate a liquid crystal flow, for preventingimperfect or excessive filling of the liquid crystal.

Moreover, the regulation of the liquid crystal flow by the dummy columnspacer solves the problem of the contamination of the liquid crystal bythe contact with the UV sealant.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and areintended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this application, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principle of theinvention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a related art LCD panel;

FIGS. 2A to 2D are perspective views illustrating a method forfabricating an LCD panel using a related art liquid crystal droppingmethod;

FIG. 3 illustrates a plane view of an LCD panel in accordance with afirst embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A to 4C are cross-sectional views taken along line IV-IV of FIG.3;

FIG. 5 illustrates a plane view of an LCD panel in accordance with asecond embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a plane view of an LCD panel in accordance with athird embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 7A to 7C are cross-sectional views taken along line VII-VII ofFIG. 6;

FIG. 8 illustrates a plane view of an LCD panel in accordance with afourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates a plane view of an LCD panel in accordance with afifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 10A to 10C are cross-sectional views taken along line X-X of FIG.9;

FIG. 11 illustrates a plane view of an LCD panel in accordance with asixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 12A and 12B are plane views of an LCD panel in accordance with aseventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 13A to 13D are perspective views illustrating a method forfabricating an LCD panel in accordance with an eighth embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating irradiating a UV ray in amethod for fabricating an LCD panel in accordance with the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the illustrated embodiments ofthe present invention, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numberswill be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 3 illustrates a plane view of an LCD panel in accordance with afirst embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the LCD panel includes a lower substrate 100, anupper substrate 200, and a UV sealant 300 between the substrates 100 and200. Column spacers (not shown) are formed in a pixel region (a line ‘A’represents an imaginary line for indicating a pixel region), and a dummycolumn spacer 260 is formed inside the UV sealant 300 in the dummyregion to regulate a liquid crystal flow. A liquid crystal layer (notshown) is formed between the lower and upper substrates 100 and 200. Thecolumn spacer serves to maintain a cell gap between the lower substrate100 and the upper substrate 200.

More specifically, the dummy column spacer 260 has a height the same asthe column spacer, and an opened portion 262 in at least one of thecorner-regions. Although the drawing shows that the opened portion 262is formed at all four corners, the number of the opened portion 262 maybe varied. Alternatively, the opened portion 262 may not be formed atall. The dummy column spacer 260 serves as a liquid crystal flowpassage, thereby uniformly filling the liquid crystal throughout thecell, and preventing the liquid crystal from being contaminated by theUV sealant 300. That is, as shown in arrows in the drawing, since theliquid crystal flows along the dummy column spacer 260, and to thecorner-region of the substrate through the opened portion 262, theliquid crystal in the corner-regions of the substrates is uniformlyspread throughout the substrate. Moreover, the dummy column spacer 260without the opened portion 262 serves as a dam for preventing the liquidcrystal from contacting the UV sealant and being contaminated by the UVsealant.

Variations of the first embodiment of the present invention will beexplained with reference to FIGS. 4A to 4C, which are cross-sectionalviews taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 3 (a region having no openedportion 262 is formed in the dummy column spacer 260) illustrating otherembodiments.

Referring to FIG. 4A, a black matrix 210, a color filter layer 220, anda common electrode 230 are formed on the upper substrate 200 in thisorder. Gate lines, data lines, thin film transistors, and pixelelectrodes (all not shown) are formed on the lower substrate 100. Aplurality of column spacers 250 are formed in the pixel region on theupper substrate 200 each having a height of the cell gap. Since thecolumn spacers 250 are formed in regions of the gate lines and the datalines, the column spacers 250 are formed on the common electrode 230over the black matrix 210 on the upper substrate 200. A dummy columnspacer 260 is formed in the dummy region on the upper substrate 200 witha height the same as the column spacer 250. The dummy column spacer maybe formed in any region except for the pixel region as far as the regionis within the dummy region on the inner side of the UV sealant 300.Although the drawing shows that the dummy column spacer 260 is formed onthe common electrodes 230 without an underlying color filter layer 220,the dummy column spacer 260 may be formed on the common electrodes 230with the underlying color filter layer 220. For example, the columnspacer 250 and the dummy column spacer 260 may be formed of aphotosensitive resin.

In the meantime, an overcoat layer may be additionally formed betweenthe color filter layer 220 and the common electrode 230 on the uppersubstrate 200, and alignment layers may be formed on the upper substrate200 inclusive of the column spacers 260 and the lower substrate 100,respectively.

FIG. 4B illustrates a cross-sectional view of an LCD panel in accordancewith another variation of the first embodiment of the present invention.In this embodiment, instead of the common electrode 230, the overcoatlayer 240 is formed on the upper substrate 200 in the foregoing LCDpanel, shown in FIG. 4A.

The LCD panel in FIG. 4B is called an in-plane switching (IPS) mode LCDpanel, and has a common electrode formed on the lower substrate 100.Therefore, the IPS mode LCD panel is the same as the LCD panel in FIG.4A, except for that the column spacer 250 and the dummy column spacer260 are formed on the overcoat layer 240.

FIG. 4C illustrates a cross-sectional view of an LCD panel in accordancewith another embodiment of the present invention. In the LCD panel inFIG. 4B, the overcoat layer 240 is patterned such that it is formed onthe black matrix 210 and not on the sealant 300. The others are similarto the LCD panel in FIG. 4B.

FIG. 5 illustrates a plane view of an LCD panel in accordance with asecond embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the LCD panel according to the second embodiment ofthe present invention includes a dummy column spacer 260 having anopened portion 262. The opened portion 262 includes a plurality ofopenings in each corner-region of the substrate.

The opened portion 262 including a plurality of openings permits aliquid crystal to easily flow to the corners of the substrate, andallows a uniform filling of the liquid crystal. The opened portion 262may be formed in at least one of the corner-regions. A plurality ofopenings may be formed at either a constant interval or an irregularinterval. The others are similar to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 illustrates a plane view of an LCD panel in accordance with athird embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, the LCD panel includes a lower substrate 100, anupper substrate 200, and a UV sealant 300 between the lower and uppersubstrates 100 and 200. A plurality of column spacers (not shown) areformed in a pixel region (a line ‘A’ represents an imaginary line forindicating the pixel region), and a dummy column spacer 260 is formed oninside the UV sealant 300 in the dummy region to regulate a liquidcrystal flow. The dummy column spacer 260 is formed at a height the sameas the column spacer and has an opened portion 262 in at least one ofthe corner-regions. The opened portion 262 may not be formed at all.Also, a dotted line type dummy column spacer 270 may be additionallyformed at the inner dummy region of the dummy column spacer 260 forassisting the regulation of the liquid crystal flow. A liquid crystallayer (not shown) is formed between the substrates 100 and 200.

The additional dotted line type dummy column spacer 270 inside the dummycolumn spacer 260 facilitates more smooth regulation of the liquidcrystal flow because the liquid crystal flows along spaces of not onlythe dummy column spacer 260, but also the dotted line type column spacer270.

Variations of this embodiment of the present invention will be explainedin detail with reference to FIGS. 7A to 7C, which are cross-sectionalviews taken along line VII-VII of FIG. 6 (a region having no openedportion 262 in the dummy column spacer 260).

Referring to FIG. 7A, a black matrix 210, a color filter layer 220, anda common electrode 230 are formed on the upper substrate 200 in thisorder. A plurality of gate lines, data lines, thin film transistors, andpixel electrodes (all not shown) are formed on the lower substrate 100.Column spacers 250 are formed in the pixel region on the upper substrate200 each having a height of the cell gap. The dummy column spacer 260 isformed in the dummy region on the upper substrate 200 with a height thesame as the column spacer 250. The dotted line type dummy column spacer270 is formed in the dummy region inside the dummy column spacer 260with a height the same as the column spacer 250. Although only onedotted line type dummy column spacer 270 is shown in FIG. 7A, there maybe a plurality of the dotted line type column spacers 270. The dottedline type dummy column spacer 270 may be formed in any region as far asthe region is within the dummy region. For example, the column spacer250, the dummy column spacer 260, and the dotted line type dummy columnspacer 270 may be formed of a photosensitive resin.

In the meantime, an overcoat layer may be additionally formed betweenthe color filter layer 220 and the common electrode 230 on the uppersubstrate 200, and alignment films (not shown) are formed on the uppersubstrate 200 inclusive of the column spacers 260 and the dotted linetype dummy column spacer 270, and the lower substrate 100, respectively.

FIG. 7B illustrates a cross-sectional view of an LCD panel in accordancewith another variation of the third embodiment of the present invention,wherein, in the foregoing LCD panel in FIG. 7A, not the common electrode230, but the overcoat layer 240, is formed on the upper substrate 200.The LCD panel in FIG. 7B is called an IPS mode LCD panel, and has thecommon electrode formed on the lower substrate 100. Therefore, the IPSmode LCD panel is similar to the LCD panel in FIG. 7A, except for thatthe column spacer 250, the dummy column spacer 260, and the dotted linetype dummy column spacer 270 are formed on the overcoat layer 240.

FIG. 7C illustrates a cross-sectional view of an LCD panel in accordancewith another variation of the third embodiment of the present invention.In this embodiment, the overcoat layer 240 is patterned such that thesealant 300 is formed directly on the upper substrate. Others aresimilar to the LCD panel in FIG. 7B.

FIG. 8 illustrates a plane view of an LCD panel in accordance with afourth embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, the LCD panel according to the fourth embodiment ofthe present invention includes a dummy column spacer 260 having anopened portion 262. The opened portion 262 includes a plurality ofopenings in the corner-region of the substrate.

The opened portion 262 may be formed in at least one of thecorner-regions. A plurality of openings may be formed at either aconstant interval or an irregular interval. The others are similar tothe third embodiment.

FIG. 9 illustrates a plane view of an LCD panel in accordance with afifth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a dottedline type dummy column spacer 270 is formed outside the dummy columnspacer 260. Since the others are similar to the third embodiment,detailed descriptions are omitted for simplicity. FIGS. 10A to 10Cillustrate cross-sectional views taken along line X-X of FIG. 9 forvariations.

FIG. 11 illustrates a plane view of an LCD in accordance with a sixthembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 11, the LCD panel according to the sixth embodiment ofthe present invention includes a dummy column spacer 260 having anopened portion 262. The opened portion 262 includes a plurality ofopenings in the corner-regions of the substrate. The opened portion 262may be formed in at least one of the corner-regions. A plurality ofopenings may be formed at either a constant interval or an irregularinterval. The others are similar to the fifth embodiment.

FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrate plane views of LCDs in accordance with aseventh embodiment of the present invention, wherein a second dummycolumn spacer 280 is additionally formed inside or outside a first dummycolumn spacer 260.

The dummy column spacer is duplicated for a better regulation of theliquid crystal flow. The first dummy column spacer 260 and/or the seconddummy column spacer 280 may have the opened portion 262 in at least oneof the corner-regions. The opened portion 262 may include a plurality ofopenings formed at either a constant interval or an irregular interval.The first dummy column spacer 260 and the second dummy column spacer 280may be varied similar to the foregoing dummy column spacer 260 and thedotted line type dummy column spacer 270.

FIGS. 13A to 13D are perspective views illustrating a method forfabricating an LCD panel in accordance with an eighth embodiment of thepresent invention. Although the drawing illustrates only one unit cell,there may be more than one unit cell.

Referring to FIG. 13A, a lower substrate 100 and an upper substrate 200are prepared for the process. A plurality of gate lines and data lines(both not shown) are formed on the lower substrate 100 to cross eachother defining pixel regions. A thin film transistor having a gateelectrode, a gate insulating film, a semiconductor layer, an ohmiccontact layer, source/drain electrodes, and a protection film, is formedat every crossed point of the gate lines and the data lines. A pixelelectrode is formed at each of the pixel regions connected to the thinfilm transistor.

An alignment film is formed on the pixel electrode for an initialorientation of the liquid crystal. The alignment film may be formed ofone of polyimide, polyamide group compound, polyvinylalcohol (PVA), andpolyamic acid by rubbing, or a photosensitive material, such aspolyvinvylcinnamate (PVCN), polysilioxanecinnamate (PSCN), orcellulosecinnamate (CelCN) group compound by photo-alignment.

A black matrix is formed on the upper substrate 200 for shielding alight leakage from the gate lines, the data lines, and the thin filmtransistors. A color filter layer of red, green, and blue is formedthereon. A common electrode is formed thereon. An overcoat layer may beadditionally formed between the color filter layer and the commonelectrode.

Silver (Ag) dots are formed on the lower substrate 100, for applying avoltage to the common electrode on the upper substrate 200 after the twosubstrates 100 and 200 are bonded with each other. Alternatively, thesilver dots may be formed on the upper substrate 200.

In an in-plane switching mode LCD panel, a lateral field is induced bythe common electrode formed on the lower substrate the same as the pixelelectrode. Thus, the silver dots may not be formed on the substrates. Asshown in the first to eighth embodiments, the column spacer, the dummycolumn spacer, the dotted line type dummy column spacer, and the seconddummy column spacer are formed on the various locations of the uppersubstrate 200. The column spacer and the dummy column spacer, the columnspacer, the dummy column spacer, and the dotted line type dummy columnspacer, or the column spacer, the dummy column spacer, and the seconddummy column spacer may be formed of photosensitive resin at the sametime with the same height (i.e., at the height of a cell gap). Theforegoing alignment film is formed on the upper substrate 200.

Referring to FIG. 13B, a UV sealant 300 is coated on the upper substrate200. The sealant may be coated by using a dispensing method or a screenprinting method. However, the screen printing method may damage thealignment film formed on the substrate since the screen directlycontacts the substrate. Also, the screen printing method may not beeconomically feasible due to a large amount of the sealant loss for alarge substrate.

For example, monomers or oligomers each having both ends coupled with anacrylic group mixed with an initiator, or monomers or oligomers eachhaving one end coupled with an acrylic group and the other end coupledwith an epoxy group mixed with an initiator is used as the UV sealant300.

Then, a liquid crystal 500 is dispensed onto the lower substrate 100 toform a liquid crystal layer. A dispensed amount of the liquid crystal isdetermined with a substrate size and a cell gap. Generally, the liquidcrystal is dispensed more than the determined amount.

The liquid crystal is contaminated once the liquid crystal contacts thesealant 300 before the sealant 300 is hardened. Therefore, the liquidcrystal 500 is dispensed onto the central part of the lower substrate100. A flow speed of liquid crystal 500 dispensed onto the central partis appropriately regulated by the dummy column spacer and the dottedline type dummy column spacer, thereby uniformly speeding the liquidcrystal 500 inside of the UV sealant 300.

FIG. 13B illustrates that the liquid crystal 500 is dispensed on thelower substrate 100, and the UV sealant 300 is coated on the uppersubstrate 200. Alternatively, the liquid crystal 500 may be dispensed onthe upper substrate 200, and the UV sealant 300 may be coated on thelower substrate 100.

Moreover, the liquid crystal 500 and the UV sealant 300 may be formed onthe same substrate. The liquid crystal and the sealant may be formed ondifferent substrates in order to shorten the fabrication time period.When the liquid crystal 500 and the UV sealant 300 are formed on thesame substrate, there occurs unbalance in the fabricating processesbetween the substrate with the liquid crystal and the sealant and thesubstrate without the liquid crystal and the sealant. In addition, thesubstrate cannot be cleaned when the sealant is contaminated before thesubstrates are attached to each other since the liquid crystal and thesealant are formed on the same substrate. Therefore, after coating theUV sealant, a substrate cleaning step may be added.

Referring to FIG. 13C, the lower substrate 100 and the upper substrate200 are attached to each other. The lower substrate 100 and the uppersubstrate 200 may be bonded by the following processes. First, a liquidcrystal is dispensed on one of the substrates. The other substrate isturned by 180 degrees so that the side of the substrate at the upperside having the liquid crystal layers faces into the upper surface ofthe substrate at the lower side. Thereafter, the substrate at the upperside is pressed, or the space between the substrates is evacuated, andreleasing the vacuum, thereby attaching the two substrates.

Then, referring to FIG. 13D, a UV ray is irradiated on the attachedsubstrates by using a UV irradiating device. Upon irradiating the UVray, monomers or oligomers are polymerized by the initiator in the UVsealant, thereby bonding the lower substrate 100 and the upper substrate200.

Monomers or oligomers each having one end coupled to an acrylic groupand the other end coupled to an epoxy group mixed with an initiator areused as the UV sealant 300. Since the epoxy group is not reactive withthe UV irradiation, the sealant may have to be heated at about 120° C.for one hour after the UV irradiation for hardening the sealant.

In the meantime, the irradiation of the UV ray to the entire surface ofthe attached substrates may affect characteristics of devices, such asthin film transistors formed on the substrate, and alter a pre-tiltangle of the alignment film formed for an initial orientation of theliquid crystal.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 14, the UV irradiation is carried out withmasking the pixel regions inside the UV sealant 300 by a mask 700. Then,the bonded substrates are cut into unit cells. In the cutting step,after forming a scribing line (scribing process) on the surface of thebonded substrates by a scriber, such as a diamond pen with a hardnesshigher than the substrate, a mechanical impact is applied thereto alongthe scribing line by using a breaker (a break process), to obtain aplurality of unit cells at the same time.

Alternatively, a pen or wheel of diamond may be used to carry out thescribing and the breaking in one step, to obtain a unit cell one by one.A cutting device carrying out the scribing/breaking at the same-time maybe used in considering an occupied space of the cutting device and arequired cutting time period.

Then, a final inspection is carried out after the cutting. In the finalinspection, presence of defects is verified before the substrates cutinto cell units are assembled into a module, by examining a properoperation of the pixels when a voltage applied thereto is turned on/off.

As explained previously, the LCD panel and the method for fabricatingthe same of the present invention have the following advantages.

The dummy column spacer and the dotted line type dummy column spacer,both having openings in the dummy region, control the liquid crystalflow, thereby maintaining a uniform cell gap and improving a picturequality.

The dummy column spacer and the dotted line type dummy column spacerserve as dams and prevent the liquid crystal from contacting the UVsealant.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the liquid crystal displaypanel and the method for fabricating the same of the present inventionwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, itis intended that the present invention covers the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

1-12. (Cancelled).
 13. A method for fabricating a liquid crystal displaypanel, comprising: forming a column spacer and a dummy column spacer ona first substrate, the column spacer being formed in a pixel region andthe dummy column spacer being formed in a dummy region; forming a UVsealant outside the dummy column spacer; applying a liquid crystal onthe second substrate; attaching the first and second substrates; andirradiating a UV ray on the attached substrates.
 14. The method of claim13, wherein the column spacer and the dummy column spacer are formed atthe same time.
 15. The method of claim 13, (further comprising forming adotted line type dummy column spacer inside the dummy region of thedummy column spacer.
 16. The method of claim 13, further comprisingforming a dotted line type dummy column spacer outside the dummy regionof the dummy column spacer.
 17. the method of claim 13, furthercomprising a supplemental dummy column spacer adjacent to the dummycolumn spacer.
 18. The method of claim 13, wherein irradiating a UV rayon the attached substrates is carried out with masking the pixel regioninside the UV sealant.
 19. The method of claim 13, further comprisingheating the substrates after irradiating a UV ray.
 20. The method ofclaim 13, further comprising cleaning the substrates after forming a UVsealant.